Hey all, I’m British so I don’t really know the ins and outs of the US healthcare system. Apologies for asking what is probably a rather simple question.

So like most of you, I see many posts and gofundmes about people having astronomically high medical bills. Most recently, someone having a $27k bill even after his death.

However, I have an American friend who is quick to point out that apparently nobody actually pays those bills. They’re just some elaborate dance between insurance companies and hospitals. If you don’t have insurance, the cost is lower or removed entirely. Supposedly.

So I’m just asking… How accurate is that? Consider someone without insurance, a minor physical ailment, a neurodivergent mind and no interest in fighting off harassing people for the rest of their life.

How much would such a person expect to pay, out of their own pocket, for things like check ups, x rays, meds, counselling and so on?

  • insufferableninja@lemdro.idEnglish
    82·
    29 days ago

    on the one hand - my wife and i didn’t have insurance when my oldest was born, as i was doing contractor work overseas. Between one thing and another over the course of that year, we paid like $8k in medical expenses, including all the obgyn visits and the actual delivery, plus a hernia repair for me. The hospital was very easy to work with. Our income was very high so it was not exactly a burden. (8k was about 2% of total salary)

    on the other hand - this year, with insurance we’re going to pay about $6k in insurance premiums and $8k in medical expenses before we hit our deductible (~7% of total salary)

    on the gripping hand - last year we had really excellent insurance. we paid a total of $1200 for the year in premiums, $50/pay period, and our deductible was only $2k. (~1% of total salary)

    So it definitely varies a lot

    • snooggums@midwest.socialEnglish
      3·
      29 days ago

      n the other hand - this year, with insurance we’re going to pay about $6k in insurance premiums and $8k in medical expenses before we hit our deductible (~7% of total salary)

      First world countries spend like $6,000 - $8,000 per person on care for better outcomes. The US pays more in employer subsidies and premiums than other countries pay altogether for medical care, and they don’t have to worry about it at the point of service.

      • insufferableninja@lemdro.idEnglish
        12·
        29 days ago

        thanks for explaining things i already know, and that have no fucking bearing on the question OP asked.

        this isn’t “whose health care experience is better and less costly” - the question was “what does US health care cost”, which is the question i answered.

        • snooggums@midwest.socialEnglish
          21·
          29 days ago

          You left out the absolutely massive amount of costs hidden by employer subsidies by focusing on the point of service costs.

          Also, your username checks out.